Published

5 December 2012

Press Release Number:

N/A

One of the most significant spring heatwaves on record affected large parts of eastern Australia in the last week of November 2012. Temperatures reached levels not previously observed at this time of year in many areas, particularly in northern Victoria and southern inland New South Wales, and a record was set for the highest spring temperature on record in Victoria.

The event started with a build-up of extreme heat in central Australia over the weekend of 24-25 November. This was the latest of a sequence of extreme heat events in the region over the course of spring 2012 which was the hottest on record for average maximum temperatures over much of outback South Australia. The first day over 45 °C for the event occurred on 25 November, when Oodnadatta reached 45.6 °C, and temperatures remained in the low to mid-40s in northern South Australia, and adjacent parts of Queensland and New South Wales, for the next three days. Marree Airport in South Australia reached 45.5 °C on the 26th and 44.1 °C on the 28th. >> More